The key to treatment-free beekeeping is to artificially increase the natural reproductive process of the hives. This is what sets it apart from “natural” beekeeping. Instead of letting the survivors swarm and reproduce on their own, they are split or queens produced to make more offspring than they otherwise would have.
Full Answer
How to start beekeeping for free?
Take advantage of free resources such as:
- Check out books on beekeeping from the library
- Look up beekeeping online
- Watch videos about starting a beehive
What do I need to start beekeeping?
The basic equipment needed is:
- A beehive
- Frames and Foundation
- Hive Tool
- Smoker
- Bee suite
- Protective Gloves
- Bees. This is only the basic, and you might need much more depending on your locations and if you want to harvest honey.
- Uncapper
- Honey Extractor
- Honey Sieve
How to start your own Beehive?
The pretty petals in your garden will keep bees happy too. As edible flowers continue to grace ... By early spring you should start to see pretty blossoms surrounded by happy pollinators. Hawthorn - The blossom of hawthorn is often used in cooking, but ...
How to start keeping bees?
‘It is best to source bees locally – ask a local club or beekeeper for advice – and start with a small colony nucleus; it will grow quickly if you buy it in late spring,’ advises Anne. Bees will be better adapted to your local conditions if you buy from a local source.
How can I start bee keeping for free?
0:229:14Start Beekeeping For Free - Easiest Way To Catch Swarms - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou don't need to go and buy a nuke you can go and catch swarms for free quite controversial. TheMoreYou don't need to go and buy a nuke you can go and catch swarms for free quite controversial. The video i did before about selling swarms.
How many beehives should a beginner start with?
2 hivesMost beekeeping classes recommend that the new beekeeper begin with 2 hives. In my online beekeeping class, I encourage my students to begin with 2 that first year. Most new beekeepers should not begin with more than 3-4 hives. However, 1 person could manage many more beehives with a lot of time to spare.
Can you Beekeep at home?
The ordinance will limit beekeeping to backyards of single family homes and establish buffer zones, and beekeepers will have to provide a source of water at their hives, according to the Associated Press.
How do I get started with beekeeping?
8 Steps to Getting Started with Your Own HiveFirst, educate yourself. ... Gather your hive and equipment. ... Order your bees. ... Set up your hive. ... Introduce the bees to their hive. ... Put the top back on the hive, and pray for the best. ... Feed the bees. ... Check on your bees periodically.
How much honey will one hive produce?
A typical beehive in the United States can produce anywhere from 10 to 200 pounds of honey in a year. That is an unbelievably large range, which indicates just how critical these variables are in order for a beehive to reach peak honey production.
Is it OK to have just one bee hive?
It's okay to start out with just one beehive, especially if you're unsure if beekeeping is really for you. However, keep in mind that bee colonies can die even if you do everything right. With only one hive, your entire bee supply would be gone.
What are the main disadvantages of beekeeping?
Diseases, pesticides, and parasites are the most common troubles encountered by bees, but sometimes, there is no explanation for an unhealthy hive. Take the time to learn how to keep your bees healthy and to inquire about any problems other beekeepers in your area might have had.
How far should a beehive be from your house?
Even though each case is different, we can use some general estimates of a safe distance to be from the hive. For a honey bee colony with a calm temperature, give yourself at least 4 feet of clearance behind the hive and on each side if possible.
How much land do you need to keep bees?
Each hive takes up about 2.5 square feet and should have a radius of space around it of at least five feet. Most beekeepers have between one and four hives. Remember, beehives are not set-and-forget. They require work to maintain.
Can you start a beehive without buying bees?
It is quite common for new beekeepers to wonder if bees will come to an empty hive. After all, if you can attract a swarm of bees to a hive, you will not need to buy bees to get started. Yes, with a bit of time and effort you can lure bees to an empty hive.
What to know before starting a beehive?
7 Things To Know Before Starting A BeehiveYou Must Do Your Research. ... There Are Two Ways To Acquire A Hive. ... There Are Different Ways To Supply Bees. ... You Have To Find The Right Spot. ... There Are Some Common Hazards To Beware Of. ... Hives Need Lots Of Attention. ... Success Is Not Guaranteed.
Do bees remember you?
Well we don't all look alike to them, according to a new study that shows honeybees, who have 0.01% of the neurons that humans do, can recognize and remember individual human faces. For humans, identifying faces is critical to functioning in everyday life.
Why treatment free so often fails
I’ve been writing my entire life, but if I had five more lifetimes to explain why treatment-free beekeepers so often fail, I couldn’t say it better than Randy Oliver did in a few short paragraphs.
The gold standard
Treatment free is the gold standard we all want to attain. But to succeed at treatment free, you need experience, basic knowledge of honey bee genetics, and stock that has potential. Moreover, you need a plan. If you don’t have a plan, if you don’t know where you’re going or how to get there, you will spend your time raising mites instead of bees.
Pay your dues
In Chapter 21 of the 2015 edition of The Hive and the Honey Bee, authors Currie, Spivak and Reuter say it well:
Evaluate your apiary
Then too, be sure to evaluate your local area. If your home-town bee club is importing hundreds of packages every spring, you have a long row to hoe. Trying to influence the gene pool in an area that is constantly deluged with commercial stock will require some serious management, if it’s possible at all.
Science without politics
My own education is in agronomy (the science of soil management and crop production) and environmental science. I try to use that knowledge to teach others about bees (both native and not) without a particular agenda. I simply believe that the more we know, the better we can understand the nuances, the alternatives, and the consequences.
What does "treatment free" mean for bees?
Ask any 10 treatment-free beekeepers what it means to be treatment-free, and you will get 10 different answers or at least answers with some level of nuance. Some people use essential oils while others consider essential oils treatment. One beekeeper may define treatment-free as abstention from chemicals, antibiotics, and pesticides, while another may consider any human intervention meant to help the bees survive as a treatment, including supplemental feeding.
What happens if you don't understand bee genetics?
If you don’t understand basic bee genetics, you will likely struggle to create a successful treatment-free operation. A deep dive into bee genetics is the next level of your bee education after you’ve mastered the foundational skills of beekeeping and have a basic understanding of bee biology.
What does it mean to be treatment free?
Ya just do. Regardless of what definition you fall under, being treatment-free means letting bees do their thing, unimpeded by human influence. If you don’t know how bees behave, what they eat (more on that later), and how their bodies work, you can’t assess whether they are successfully navigating their existence.
Is beekeeping a hobby?
Bees are not just a set-it-and-forget-it hobby; they are living, breathing creatures that require care and attention, not unlike other domesticated animals such as cattle or puppies. Treatment-free doesn’t mean completely hands-off, but if you’re considering this method of beekeeping, it’s good to get clear on what it means to you.
Can honey bees make tea?
Click the image below to see the 3 different Honey Bee Tea recipes. Honey Bee Tea should be used as the second choice to the bees own honey. If at all possible, the best food for your colony of honey bees is their own food source they created – Honey. … Continue reading
Do bees need microbiome?
Bees need proper nutrition to survive and they also need the microbiome of the hive in order to stay healthy. Don’t take it from me. Take it from the respected and renowned treatment-free beekeeper, Michael Bush:
Can a vararia mite be closed?
The Varroa mite is a Pandora’s box that humans will never be able to close. They are here to stay and they aren’t going anywhere despite all our efforts to treat them away. According to USDA’s Report on Honey Bee Health (PDF), published in 2012, the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, remains the single most detrimental … Continue reading
How to inspect a bee hive?
Here’s what to do during your inspection: 1 Suit up and get your smoker ready 2 Lift the hive top and use your smoker, then wait for the smoke to take effect, repeat for each section 3 Locate the queen and make sure she looks okay 4 See if there are pests or parasites 5 See if there are eggs, larvae, and young bees. A healthy hive should have all three 6 Keep records in your journal
How to get bees to fall to the bottom of a box?
Place the queen, sugar plug up, in the empty hive and just before installing the bees, spray them with the sugar water and give them another shake so they fall to the bottom of the box.
Why are warre hives designed?
The reasoning behind this design is to mimic how bees behave in nature. The Warre hive is meant to be like a natural space for the bees, similar to a tree. The Warre hive requires less inspection time, with the assumption that bees take care of themselves in this natural-like space.
Why do beekeepers like the top bar hive?
Seasoned beekeepers like this hive because it tends to be easier to move around than others.
How many bees are in a box?
A package of bees can contain anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 bees and will usually be sold by the weight. This may sound like a lot of bees, but it’s actually on the smaller end of the beekeeping spectrum. Your box will come with worker bees and a queen. All set to go.
What are hive tools made of?
Hive tools can be made from metal, wood, and sturdy plastic. If you have thin, strong, tools lying around the farm, feel free to use those, but these specific tools will probably make your life a bit easier, and get the honey on your toast faster. 5. Bee Brush.
How to smoke a queen bee hive?
Here’s what to do during your inspection: Suit up and get your smoker ready. Lift the hive top and use your smoker, then wait for the smoke to take effect, repeat for each section. Locate the queen and make sure she looks okay.
When to order bees?
January is the time to order your bees for shipment or pickup in April or May. Local beekeeping associations are a great place to start asking around for bees. And you'll want to decide whether package bees, nucs, catching a swarm, or buying an already-started hive is the right choice for you.
When to order bees for shipment?
It might seem strange to order bees before you get everything else together for beekeeping, but it's important because most places don't have bees for sale by the time spring is well underway. January is the time to order your bees for shipment or pickup in April or May.
What is the Langstroth hive?
Two main systems are used in beekeeping. One is called the Langstroth hive, and it's composed of boxes that are stacked on top of each other, each containing frames where the bees build their comb and store honey. You pull the boxes out like drawers to access the bees, harvest honey, and perform maintenance tasks.
Do bees need ongoing care?
Month by month, season by season, bees need ongoing care. But they don't require a huge time investment. You must check on them somewhat frequently, but observation is a good percentage of what you'll do to keep your bees happy. Just watching hive activity can be relaxing and informative.
How long does Mite Away take to kill bees?
One of the attractions of this product is that it only needs to be in the hive for 7 days. It is a gel based product that evaporates after being placed in the hive and kills both phoretic (mites outside the cell, usually riding on bees) and mites inside capped brood. It leaves no residue and you can leave honey supers on when using it. (though personally I wouldn’t)
How long do winter bees live?
Winter bees are the ones that live for months instead of weeks. They are the bees that will keep the colony warm throughout those freezing winter days and nights. If these bees are not healthy due to mite load or disease, the chances of your colony surviving the winter are greatly reduced.
How many bees are in a half cup?
The Formula: A half cup equals approximately 300 bees. Divide the number of mites you count by 300 and you will get the percentage of mites. For example, 23 mites divided by 300 equals 7.6 percent. A mite count above 5 percent means your colony could be in trouble.
When do bees eat pollen?
Pollen is fed to larva on the fourth and fifth day and callow bees (be es that just emerged) consume pollen almost immediately upon climbing out from the cell. Recent studies are showing just how much a healthy balance of pollen can improve the health of a colony.
Is synthetic bee pollen toxic?
The three organic products all operate on the basis of a vapor and are corrosive, not toxic.
Is organic honey better for bees?
In summary, the organics are certainly a better approach, but let’s always remember we are putting a poison inside the beehive. With the synthetics a toxic pool of chemicals can build up in the wax and is certainly not good for the bees. On the other hand, the organics may not build up in the wax.
Can you pour oxalic acid over bees?
The product was originally used in a liquid form and poured over frames, but I would never suggest pouring anything wet over your bees for a number of reasons.
